It was a poignant day for all concerned when the Swale family's Joylan Holstein herd, which included Claire Swale's Heavenly herd, was dispersed on Tuesday.

The family decided to sell the farm and disperse the two herds at home following the sad death of Alan Swale four years ago. In all, 599 cattle went through the ring at 60 head per hour, with trade remaining buoyant from start to finish. Prices peaked at 9500gns and no fewer than 21 making 3000gns or more.

Apart from the few top individuals, the herd was predominantly a well run commercial outfit of 700 cattle, comprising 450 cows averaging 10,500kg on twice daily milking in cubicles.

It was two extremely well bred females from the Heavenly herd that topped this on-farm sale from just outside St Michaels, Preston, when a mother and daughter duo made 9500gns and 7500gns, respectively.

Sale leader at 9500gns was Heavenly So Katrysha ET, a February 2017-born ninth consecutive VG or Excellent-classified second calver and a full sister to the 9770kg heifer Heavenly Solo Knockout ET VG-89, that sold for 7000gns Black and White sale.

Bred from the VG88 Ex-MS Miss Kats Knockout, which is a full sister to the $11,500 Miss Kats Kahlua ET VG-87, sold at the 2015 Crown Jewel Sale II, Katrysha is also a grand-daughter of the top Ex96 show cow, Lovhill Goldwyn Katrysha, that was reserve grand champion at the Word Dairy Expo and Royal Winter Fair and All Canadian 5yo 2014, supreme champion at the World Dairy Expo and grand champion at Wisconsin CS in 2015.

Katrysha is sired by Walnutlawn Solomon and sold having 9441litres in her first, to Izzy and Archie Lee, of ML Farming, Park House Farm, buying for their Crystalclear herd from North Yorkshire.

Her three-month-old heifer calf, Heavenly No Stopping Katrysha, by Riverdown Unstopabull Red, realised 7500gns to Messrs Gardiner, with a half share retained by Claire Swale.

Peter Waring, Field House Farm, Beverley, then went to 5200gns for Heavenly Solomon Atlee VG86-2yr, another by Walnutlawn Solomon, but bred from the VG87 Heavenly Cruise Atlee. Calved her first in November and still giving 30.2kg, she sold due to Peak Altalawson ET.

Her first calf, Heavenly Kdoc Atlee, by Woodcrest King Doc, also made the grade selling for 4000gns to Scottish breeder, Robert Agnew buying for his Westdhuloch herd from Kirkholm, Stranraer.

Mr Agnew was back in the frame, going to 4800gns for the similarly aged heifer calf, Heavenly Apple Crisp Arriva, an October 2019-born daughter of Siemers Oct Apple-Crisp out of the VG85-2yr Heavenly Solomon Arriva.

Also heading home to Stranraer on 4000gns was the Ex90 classified Heavenly Cinderdoor Paradise, a four-year-old by KH Cinderdoor, and a grand-daughter of the Ex94-2 SP LP100 cow, Edenordinary Goldwyn Paradise. She sold to James McNeil, buying for his Cairnpat herd from Lochans, Stranraer.

Top price for brothers David and John Swale's Joylan herd was 5600gns paid for Joylan GW Roxy Ex-95-3 LP50. An eighth successive generation of Ex or VG cows that has given more than 68 tonnes of milk to date, this Gillette Windbrook daughter, sold late in her fifth and served to Peak Altavelvet ET. Her third dam is the Ex93-2 66* Bond Haven Dixie Rox ET RM. The Hodgson family buying for their Wormanby herd from Burgh by Sands, Carlisle were the final bidders.

Her October 2019-born heifer calf, Joylan King D Roxy, by Woodcrest King Doc, made 3000gns selling to the Churchroyd herd of IRG Collins and Partners, Church Farm, Whitley, Dewsbury.

While the cream of the crop amongst the Holsteins sold well, the trade of the day was for the 100 unregistered Montbeliarde cross cattle which sold to 3200gns and 3150gns for young cows in milk and 2000gns for an in-calf heifer.

Averages: Holsteins and Montbeliardes – 328 cows and calved heifers, £2100; 67 served heifers, £1870; 69 maiden heifers, £1161; 135 ‘A’ Lots, £947. Overall, 599 head, £1695

Auctioneers: Norton and Brooksbank